Spout for containers, or the like



NOV. 3, 1931. w, J, G5151 1,830,057

VVSAOllT FORGONTADNERS 0R THE LIKE Filed Oct. l5, 1928 @4a *JW i if {4//2 16 2//75 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UN ITE D T EISl PATENT ois-FICE WILLIAM J. GEIST, OF`LO'CKPORT,"ILI1INUIS, ASSIGNOR T'THE SPOUT COR-OR-ATION OF ILLINOIS, OF JULIET, ILLINOIS, A. C'GRPRATIGN' 0F ILLINOIS SPOUT FOR 001i''ILLUTIRS;v 0E THE-LIKE Application frlecly October 15,y 1928.` Serial N0.-y 312,478.

This invention has to do with a spout for a container, or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a. spout which is practical and convenient to use and at the same time economical. andconvenient of manufacture.

Containers and like articles have been pro vided with spoutswhich are collapsible or fold into retracted position when not in use. Devices of the' class to which I refer are ordinarily appliedto the tops or ends of the containers and operate as closuresfor openings in the containers when not in. use. These devices have a swinging or pivotal movement and, as heretofore constructed, have required permanent attachment or a-pplication. to the containers. It has-.been common to crimp or clip parts of the spout constructions to the containers in order toestablish the desired connection. In practice the operations necessary to attach the spout to the containershave involved handopera'- tions as well as machine operations, and it has been found necessary to perform such.V operations at the time of manufacturing the contain ers andto thereafter fill the containers through the openings uncovered by the spouts when in Operating position.

It is an object of the present. invention to provide a spout construction applicable to a cantainer, or the like, without the useof tools or mechanical means. The construction provided by the invention can be applied to or removed from the container. at. any time, that is during the course of manufacture of the container or after the container is otherwise sealed or completed and inthe finished form. i

Another objectV ofthe invention is. t0 provide a spout construction suchas I have referred to which attaches to a container, or the like, to have a swinging or pivotalmovement between a closed position and anV ex*- tended or operating position without having a positive or permanent connection with the container.

t is an other object of the invention to provide a spout such as I have referred to which can be easily and quickly applied to aA container tovbe secure and dependable.

A further object ofthe invention. is to pro.-

vide a .simple,.practical and eifective connection betweenthe spout and container whereby the spout has a free pivotal movement between the folded and operating'positions. y It is another object of the invention to pro'- vide arspout such as I have referred to which may be formed of a .single simple piece of material and 'which is without complicated or expensiverfeatures of construction or formation..

The various objects and features of the present invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed descriptionf of. a typical form and application of the invention, throughout which description VI vrefer tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l, is an exterior elevation of the constructionprovided bythe invention showing the. spout in closed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of .the construction showing the spout in openposition. Fig. 3 is a view taken as. indicated by line 3 3 on Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4.--4 on Fig. showing the spout in the course of being arranged inv or removed from position in the container. Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4. showing the spout in position inthe container and open. Fig. 6 is an enlarged View taken at the spout showing it in closed position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the spout showing it in the position in which it is ar rangedwhen in use. Fig. S is a. plan View of the blank from which the spout. is formed. Fig. 9 is a view similar to a portion of Fig'. 5 showing a somewhat diferent form of the invention.. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the portionof the container to which the spout is .ap-

pliechbeing a view illustrating .thek shape of the openingv provided in the container to receive the spout,.andFig.l1 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the reinforcing plate that may be. used in carrying out the invention.

The present invention Vis applicable generally to containers, or the like, and is part-icularl'y suited for. application to small containers or boxes such as are used in merchandising various household commodities. The invention may be used to advantage in handling a wide range of materials and in connection with a wide variety of containers. For purpose of facilitating an understanding of the principles of the invention I will set forth a single typical application of the invention to a simple form of container, it being understood that such description is not to be construed as a limitation or restriction upon the invention.

In the drawings I have illustrated a simple or common form of container 10 having a cylindrical side wall 11 and a flat end or top wall 12. In the case illustrated the top wall 12 is joined to the side wall 11 by a suitable flange 13. As far as the present invention is concerned, the various parts of the container may be separable or they may be permanently assembled. Further, the parts of the container, for instance the various walls of the container, may be of various shapes or conii gurations, it being preferred to apply the invention to a flat part of the container, for eX- ample to a wall such as the wall 12 in preference to a curved part such as the wall 11. I will therefore describe the invention as applied to the flat end wall 12 of the container.

F or the purpose of the present invention the wall 12 of the container is provided with a rectangular opening A for the reception of the spout B. The exact shape, size and proportioning of the opening A will, of course, depend upon the spout to be applied to it, and in practice may be varied widely and still be within the spirit of the invention. In the particular opening construction illustrated a projection or tongue 14 projects into the opening from what is the hinge end when the spout is in place. The tongue is spaced from the side edges 15 of the opening forming notches 16 for the reception of the side parts of the spout, as will be hereinafter described. In a similar manner a projection or tongue 17 projects into the opening A from the opposite end of the opening and is spaced from the side edges 15 of the opening to form notches 18 for the reception of the sides of the spout as will be hereinafter described.

The spout B is preferably formed of sheet material shaped or formed to have a part 20 which I will term the bottom of the spout, and two like parts 21 which adjoin the part 20 and which I will term the side parts. 'Ihe spout has various other features of construction which will be hereinafter described.

The bottom 20 of the spout may be of substantially the same configuration as the opening A in the wall of the container it being preferred that the bottom part 2O be such as to form a closure for the opening in the container when the device is folded or out of operation, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings. In such case the bottom 2O is made to correspond in Width to the opening A and is made suiiiciently long to extend from one end of the opening to the other so that its ends bear on the tongues 14 and 17 when the spout is folded. This proportioning or relationing of parts is illustrated throughout the drawings. A tab or extension 22 is preferably provided on what I will term the swinging or outer end of the bottom to form a handle by which the spout can be easily operated.

The sides 21 are joined to and project from the side edges of the bottom 20. The sides are preferably formed integral with the bottom in which case the sheet of material from which the spout is formed is bent along the lines C so that they project in the same direction from the bottom and are parallel, preferably at right angles to the plane of the bottom. Each side 21 of the spout is segmental in form being` in the nature of a flat sheet or part having a curved outer edge 24, one straight end edge joined to the bottom, and a straight end edge 25 extending from the curved outer edge to join the edge which connects with the bottom. The side is joined with the bottom so that it projects somewhat beyond the inner or hinge end of the bottom 20. The edge of the side that joins the bot tom is provided beyond the bottom 20 with a notch 26.

Vhen the device is in place in connection with the wall of the container each of the sides 21 at the inner or hinge portion of the spout extends into one of the notches 1G formed by the tongue 14 at the hinge end of the openingl A, while a part of the container wall 12 at the inner end of the notch 16 projects into the notch 26. The tongue 14 is thus positioned between the two sides of the spout keeping them apart or in proper position, while, the engagement of the container parts or wall in the notches 26 forms a connection between the sides of the spout and container' wall. In order that this connection or engagement be such as to allow for pivotal movement of the spout between a position where the bottom of the spout closes the open ing A in the container and a position where the spout projects from the container to facilitate pouring of material from the container, one side 30 of each notch is cut or bevelled away, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and T of the drawings.

The side parts of the spout and the wall of the container are held in the cooperating relation described in the precededges 24 of the sides 21 are curved about points at the inner or bottom portions of the notches 26 and the sides are proportioned so that the outer edges 24 fit close to the bottoms of the notches 18, as clearly shown throughout the drawings. It will be apparent that this engagement of the outer edges 24 of the sides c tailler.

with the 1 bottoms offthe n otches 18' prevents disengagement i of :the 1 parts from f the iposi tion in fwhich v.they .cooperate toV vform the iiingei'connectionbetweenfthefspout and.` con- 'iIn accordance-with my. inventioneither one or kboth o'ffthe sides 21 are' provi-ded witlrstops 3"51vvhieh4 proj ect outwardly orl radially from the outerfedgesl 24 of: thesides adj acent the m end-edges 25 toli-mit outwardmovementof `the-spout. The stops 35 arefshown engaging the y innerssideofi the/wallj ofthe contain er to stop outward movement ofI the spout inF '5,7 and-9 ofthedrawings.

V'Thepresenti inventionprovidesa means of applying the spout, `which I have thus far describe'dytothe opening A ffrom the outer side of the wall- O'f the container without-the use of lspecial tools f and `without thedistor- @120 tion` or mutilation of anyl oftheparts. This means` in itsV preferredf'form includes a, notch 40m/the curved outer edge l24 of each side l21, :which notches are ofA substantiallythesame depthl orzpossibly somewhat deeper than the 25 -notches 26 and are adapted to co-operate with the notches 1-8=to allow-the sides l21ftobeposiitioned inthe opening fAwith thepartsat the `notches'26 free to passorfclear theparts of thecontainer at Vthe bottomsof the notches 16. 'The notches '-40- are located intermediate the ends of the outeredges 24 and inzpra'ctice do. not interfere withgthenormal operationy of the spouthetween' thepositions illustrated in Fig. 6 and 7. The notches 40 in the two side parts 21 may be opposite as shown in Figsfl to 8 or they may be located at different positions along the edges of the two sides so that the spout has to be twisted slightly to make them cooperate with the notches 18 as above described.

In applying the spout to the opening A the stops are first passed through the opening and the sides lowered through the opening until the notches are opposite the notches 18. The spout is then shifted in the direction indicated by the arrow D in Fig. 4.- to engage the notches 40 and 18 as shown in Fig. 1. The hinge end of the spout may then be lowered into the opening until the notches 26 are opposite the notches 16 whereupon shifting of the spout bodily in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow I) in Fig. 4 will cause the notches 16 and 26to cooperatively engage connecting the spout with l the container ready for pivotal movement. Pivotal movement or swinging of the outer portion of the spout will then cause the outer edges 24 of the sides 21 to sli-de through the notches 18. With the outer edges 24 operating in the notches 18, the parts are held with the notches 26 and 16 in cooperative engagement so that the spout will not become displaced from the container through normal swinging operation between the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

' ples of 'the invention.

at the factory at which'the container is-lmadel are' dispensed. Y

" :Itis Vpreferred infpracticethatuthespout be such that theY bottom 20 seats flatly on .thettnp :wall 12zwhenl in v position@ to? closelgthe :opening 5A.4 Inifthe:preferredform of the zinvention `Itheedges of thexsides121, .which-join the hottom 20,.` areA shown to :project at t5 beyond :thelhinge end ofithe bottom 1.20. When'the spout is inserted vand swungI tothe closedposition .the proj ectingrparts engage ithelbot- :tom of the bottom or inner side of-wall112and arefthereby automatically turnedxor clinched so that'` `the spout cannot. thereafter be easily removed. 'Thiszis a feature peculiarY to imy construction. The clinching of the i parts 45 makes rit possible tozproportionthe partseat iso "the 'hinge `connection between 'the spout` yand `wall=12 so thattongue 14 is.-comparatively short. The fproportioning of .partsinthe drawings is such as toillustrate thefprinei- 535 In accordance Vwith thefpreferred Iformof 1905 end of the opening and at the underorlower side 'of the `wall 12. The plate-may'be'applied before the opening A is formed so that `the wall 12 and theplate 'arefcut-Ysimultaneously as `.the fh-ole is formed. locating 'the plate at `the'inner side of thewall it-no't onlyacts to effectively reinforce 'the` wall but -a-lso forms anetfective abutment forturnino' `or clinching the projecting'parts 45 ofthe spout. "Ihe plate being at the inside ofthe 11h05 wall i12 is invisible.

iFrom the foregoing description it willlbe Vapparent that I havevprovicleda'spoutfeonstruction which "is simple and economical of manufacture, the spout'being afpl-ainfstamp- '15110 ing having but two bends these bendsbeing straightline bends occurringy alongi'the lines C shown in Fig. 8,of'theldrawings. CThe spout can-be applied tothecontainer either kor whenever desired. Thisfeatureofthefinyention permits of the container beingpaked :and the top applied by the ordinary automat ic-machines, and, when completely'iilled, the

spoutsmay:beapplied. lVhen in-place, the'illz0 spout forms `an effective, neat closure'for the opening A, and-when extended, or in operatlng position, it 'forms aneffective, practical meansof directing contents of 'fluid Yasthey Ai125 jHaving ldescribe-d only atypical preferred myself to the specific details setiforthj'but wishftofreserve tomyself any changes or v-ari- "'ationsfthat may appear'tothose skillediinthe 513" art or fall Within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A spout for use in an opening in a Wall of a container which includes, a bottom, sides extending laterally from the bottomto project into the opening, each side having a notch adjacent one end of the bottoni to receive the Wall of the container and having an outer edge curved about the Wall receiving notch and having an edge substantially perpendicular to the bottom and joining the said outer edge, a lug on each side projecting beyond the bottom adjacent a notch and adapted to be bent through engagement with the inner side of said Wall upon the spout being positioned in the opening, and a stop projection extending from each side at the connection between its said edges.

2. In combination, a container wall having an opening with notches in one end and a spout for the opening including a bottom, sides projecting laterally from the bottom having notches adjacent one end of the bottom to cooperate with the notches in the container opening, and lugs on the sides adjacent the notches in the sides and projecting beyond the bottom and adapted to engage the inner side of the container Wall and be clinched over upon arrangement of the spout in the opening.

3. In combination, a container Wall having an opening With notches in one end, a spout for the opening including a bottoni, sides projecting laterally from the bottom having notches adjacent one end of the bottom to cooperate with the notches in the container opening, and lugs on the sides adjacent the notches in the sides and projecting beyond the bottom and adapted to engage the inner side of the container Wall and be clinched over upon arrangement of the spout in the opening, and a. Jburred metal reinforcing plate at the said end of the opening having burrs embedded in the material of the container.

4. A spout for use in an opening in the Wall of a container and adapted to fit Within and provide a. closure for the opening when in one position, there being spaced notches in an end of said opening, said spout comprising a bottom, and sides extending laterally from the bottom to project into said opening, each side having a notch adjacent one end of the bottom, the spout being adapted to be positioned so that the sides extend into the notches in the end of the opening and the notches in the sides receive the Wall of the container at the ends of the notches in the container Wall, the lower sides of the notches in the spout sides being beveled, the outer edge of each side being curved about the notch in said side.

5. A spout for use in an opening in the Wall of a container adapted to fit Within and provide a closure for the said opening when in one position, the spout comprising a bottom adapted to close said opening when the spout is in said position, and sides projecting laterally from the bottom to project into the opening, the sides having notches adjacent one end of the bottom to receive the Wall of the container at one end of the opening and having portions extending beyond said end of the bottom and adapted to engage the under side of the said Wall and be clinched over upon positioning the spout in the said position in the opening.

6. A spout for use in an opening in the Wall of a container adapted to fit Within and provide a closure for the said opening when in one position, the spout comprising a bottom adapted to close said opening when the spout is in said position, and sides projecting laterally from the bottom to project into the opening, the sides having notches adjacent one end of the bottom to receive the Wall of the container at one end of the opening and having portions extending beyond said end of the bottom and adapted to engage the under side of the said Wall and be clinched over upon positioning the spout in the said position in the opening, the outer edges of the sides being curved about the notches.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 5th day of September, 1928.

WILLIAM J. GEIST. 

